Review: Wanganui Male Choir

TRIBUTE: The Wanganui Male Choir concert was in honour of Helen Ngapo.

It was a musical Sunday afternoon concert orchestrated by wonderful male voices at the Central Baptist Church in Whanganui yesterday.

The Wanganui Male Choir with guest conductor Lynn Whiteside and the Taranaki Male Choir with musical director Peter Jackson, sang to the rafters and beyond for a capacity audience who couldn't contain a few jigging feet for some of the up tempo numbers.

Titled Numbers I Love, this concert was tribute to late Helen Ngapo of Whanganui and they did her proud.

In their opening bracket the Whanganui choir's rendition of Ten Thousand Angels was truly blessed and heavenly.

The Taranaki choir's a cappella rousing South African folk songs were stirring and pitch perfect.

Guest artists, Nga Tawa School's Trio Gitanes playing Deux Interludes by Jacques Inbert had the right amount of sweetness and haunting melodic phrases. These young girls were beautiful, talented and endearing.

Also guesting was cellist Elena Morgan who played two pieces. Her Cello Concerto Movement One by Elgar was sincere and haunting. Morgan is a masterful performer, her playing was sure and smooth.

The choirs were both rousing with a glorious version of You Raise Me Up from the Taranaki choir truly powerful with its sharp phrasing and masterful harmonies.

MC Oliver Lane (secretary of the Wanganui Choir) described the closing bracket of three ''good ol songs" as a memory lane of highlights.

Both choirs sang these with verve and gusto 16 Tons, 76 Trombones and Love Potion Number Nine.

With some hand movements, knee grooves and hip sways these boys were having a great time.

The audience loved it, the choirs loved it and a successful musical feast was had by all.
For the audience it was a warm, winter afternoon's entertainment filled with fun, musical
prowess and happy listening.

Thanks Wanganui Male Choir for a lovely Sunday arvo.